You are here: Home / Archives for Balancing Act / Family Stress

Explore New Hobbies for Relaxation

May 8, 2012 by 2 Comments

According to the World English Dictionary, hobby is defined as an activity pursued in spare time for pleasure or relaxation. I have done hundreds of Stress Management and Relaxation Seminars and one of the first questions I ask my audience is “how many of you have a hobby?” It’s amazing how many people don’t. That is to say, they don’t invest time into doing something….anything they truly enjoy for relaxation. Hobbies can be anything from simply reading a favorite book, to scuba diving with all the gear!

I learned how to water-color paint quite by accident and now I find it one of my most relaxing activities.  Although I don’t have time to paint as much as I’d like, I do paint while on vacation and find it most enjoyable. I learned that I wasn’t half bad at it several years ago when I was in college to complete my Bachelors degree in Nursing. I needed to choose an elective and one of the only classes available was “Water-color paints 101.” Now, I do admit that there is a bit of genetic creativity in my family history and perhaps I was channeling my late Great Uncle Paul who was one of the most talented artists I’ve ever known in both oils and water-colors.

The bottom line here folks is to find something you enjoy and “just do it!” As the Nike slogan goes. It’s important to find time for relaxing activities….this is your stress management plan for getting through life. We’ve all heard the old saying…”all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, quite frankly, “all work and no play makes Jack and Jill very ill.” Relaxation is YOUR outlet for stress. It’s a way for your body to take a break from the damaging effects of stress. It’s a way for your mind to wander off into calm serene places. And it’s a way to regenerate the soul.

So, let’s get going….get out there and try something new and have fun!

Hope you have a less stressed day.

Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Being One with Nature

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our daily lives, the abundance of “stuff” around us, technology and the sheer enormity of people, places and things that touch our lives that we forget about what was here first and in it’s simplest form: NATURE.

If that’s a “run on” sentence, then I’m sorry…blogging is about putting your feelings on paper, or in this case in the blogosphere, it’s not necessarily about being grammatically correct, although spelling does count.

Getting back to Nature, is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to reduce your daily tension and relax. It’s about looking at what’s around you and seeing things in a different way. It’s about bringing out your inner child and looking at the smallest insect or the vastness of the universe at night and letting your mind wander and wonder. Being one with nature, means you are letting yourself become absorbed in what comes natural in life. There is an immediate feeling of relief when you let yourself walk among the trees, lay in a grassy meadow, stare at the movement of the clouds, gaze at the stars or listen to the waves of the ocean.

Remember the old saying, “stop and smell the roses”? The next time you are hurriedly moving through the grocery store and you pass by the florist area, STOP for a second, bend over, close your eyes and smell the roses. For one second in time you will be in another place and that one second might just lift your spirits to get you through the remainder of your day.

Have a less stressed day, Mercedes. 

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Organization is the Key to Less Stress.

March 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

We have all heard of making a “to do,” list to stay organized. And whether you use today’s technology, by inputting the information into your Android or IPhone or using plain old paper and pencil, the results will be the same. You will have a clearer picture of what needs to get done in order to stay organized. And why is it so important to stay organized? Because, long story short, organization is the key to reducing stress and allowing you more time to relax.

A good example is taking a vacation, like I will be doing in less than a week. This is not just any vacation, this is a complicated vacation and a very long list is needed. Taking my daughter and two of her best friends on a cruise to celebrate her Sweet 16 Birthday is no easy task. There are alot of plans to make.  Hell, it almost like plotting the take-over of a major corporation or engineering some new space vessel. Like they say, it’s all in the details!

But getting back to my point, lists can be long and complicated or short and sweet, the fact remains that they all do the same thing; keep you on track to get things done, help you prioritize what is most important and give you a sense of accomplishment as things get crossed off the list. But you might ask, so what if I can’t get it all done in one day? The answer is simple, re-prioritize the list for tomorrow and start new. Each day is a new beginning with challenges and rewards. Making a “to do,” list is just the first step in staying organized. More about the benefits of physically organizing your home, office, work-shop and even car on a later post.

So for now, whether you have big plans or just a few things that need to get done….Make that list and get going! Believe me you will feel better, stay on track and have time to relax.

Please have a less stressed day, Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Coloring isn’t just for Children.

March 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The word mandala itself is derived from the root “manda,”
which means essence, to which the suffix “la,” meaning container, has been
added. Thus, the derived definition of the mandala is that it is a “container
of essence.” And the word mandala in Sanskrit means “circle,” or “completion.”
As an image, a mandala may symbolize one’s mind, body and soul, all working in
unison to complete the whole of the person.

In nature, mandalas are found in many places, the solar
system is the most obvious but one can look carefully to find them in
sea-shells, snowflakes or the rings of a tree to name a few. Mandalas can also
be found throughout life as conceptual circles of friends, family, community as
well as the “circle of life.”

What are the therapeutic properties of coloring a
Mandala?

Mandalas are beautiful and they are powerful tools for
inspiration, meditation, healing and self-discovery. They come in many forms
from the most simple, to complex and intricate. Skill level is of no
consideration and this form of therapeutic coloring is used with both children
and adults.

The act of Mandala coloring is very relaxing, calming and
healing. The special circular designs of each mandala is meant to relieve
stress and tension, help enter a meditative state, remind us of our relation to
the infinite and the world that extends not only within our body and mind but
far beyond into the universe.

If you are curious about entering this meditative world,
grab your kid’s crayons, colored pencils or markers and find the 30-Minute
Mandalas Coloring Book to be most helpful!

Filed Under: Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Relax Now, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good News for Failed New Year’s Resolutions

February 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Research shows that 87% of those who have set a New Year’s resolution will fail within the first 90 days of the New Year. But there is good news, you don’t need to just throw your hands in the air and give up. Guess what is right around the corner, coming March 21st? That’s right the Spring Equinox.

And what better time to renew those old resolutions and try again. Spring is a time for renewal, rebirth and regrowth so why not renew your goals and put a “Spring” in your step while doing it? Most people set unrealistic goals. I want to talk about SMART goals…Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

If your goal is to save money for holiday spending for instance, do the math. What is your time frame and what is the ultimate goal? If the goal is to save $1,000.00 for the holidays, then you know you have 10 months. Divide the goal money by 10 months and you must save $100.00 per month. Now break that down day by day, roughly 300 days and you will need to save only $3.33 per day. What do you purchase on a daily basis that would cost $3.33? A fancy cup of coffee and a doughnut perhaps. An over-priced sandwich and a bag of chips? A package of cigarettes?

You get the picture, now do the same thing with your weight. If I want to lose 20 pounds by April 1st and today is March 1st, well that might not be realistic, however, 10 pounds might be more realistic. You see where I’m going with this right? Now get going and renew those “failed” New Year’s Resolutions.

Have a Less Stressed Day, Mercedes.

Filed Under: Balancing Act, Family Stress, Relationship Stress, Work Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Sweet Smells of the Holidays: Cinnamon (part 1)

November 16, 2011 by 1 Comment

Nothing evokes holiday memories than that of the aromas of holidays past. This series of blogs will focus on some of the most traditional and comforting essences surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas. We will discuss how you can specifically add these essential oil aromas to your home to produce the warmth and joy of the holidays.

Let’s start with one of the oldest and most well known aromas: Cinnamon. History has it that at one time it was considered a popular aphrodisiac, spice and antiseptic. It was originally used by the people of Ceylon in 1505. To this day it is still a popular aroma used in oriental inspired perfumes and colognes.

Aroma: Sweet, spicy, peppery, comforting, woody, herbaceous, oriental and warm.

Aromatherapy Properties: Restorative, uplifting, comforting, provokes past memories and emotions. Medicinally, cinnamon is used for digestive and intestinal discomfort, wasp stings, sore muscles and stress related conditions. It is a wonderful house-warming scent. Cinnamon is one of the most widely used and accepted aromas because of it’s prominence in culinary practices. The scent of cinnamon will conjure up past comforting memories of “cookies baking at grandma’s house and past holiday gatherings.”

How to use it:

  • Bake and cook with it and the smell will fill your home for hours.
  • Use pure essential oils of cinnamon on a sponge and place in the microwave for 1 minute. You will sanitize your sponge and also diffuse the cinnamon smell.
  • Use pure essential oils of cinnamon in a spritz bottle and spray frequently to keep the essence fresh.

 

 

Filed Under: Aromatherapy, Family Stress Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Adding Color can Lift your Mood.

September 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There has been extensive research done in the realm of color and mood. Similarly, different aromas affect the limbic system and mood, as does color. Blue and green hues are thought to be calming, whereas hot pink and red can affect the mood, ranging from exciting to agitating.

But I’m not here to necessarily talk about a specific color in respect to lifting the mood. I’m here to talk about any and all colors during the fall season. Simple decorating with color to add inspiration and energy as we embark upon the next holiday season.

The “kick-off” holiday, in my opinion is Halloween. Full of mystique and fun, Halloween can be any kind of holiday to any individual. This is a holiday of real choice….do I wear a costume or not? What sort of costume? Should I decorate the house full-tilt? Inside? Outside? What kind of treats will I offer the little witches, ghosts and princesses that arrive at my door-step? Or should I bother at all?

First of all, I have to say that Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday. I used to go full-tilt on decorations, especially when my children were young. Then after a tragic death in my family, I lost my motivation to decorate at all. And although I missed my colorful handiwork, I just could not muster the strength. But I found myself longing for those days again, even on a smaller and simpler scale. I found I was even more depressed without the color of the holidays surrounding me.

This year I added just a bit of Halloween decor to our front yard. It took me just 45 minutes to complete the project and I was so giddy with pride and happiness that I found myself going to the front yard over and over to admire it. I look forward to driving out and in the driveway so I can see the pumpkins from all angles. And at night, I just can’t wait to turn on the orange lights that delicately balance on the limbs of the little Oak tree out front. So you see, a little can go a long way to lift the mood during this holiday season. Just add a little color!

Please feel free to share any decorating ideas you may have by subscribing and commenting here. Happy Holidays!

Filed Under: Family Stress, Relax Now Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,